APHIS Determines Fresh Andean Blackberries and Raspberries Can be Imported from Ecuador into the Continental United States Under a Systems Approach

USDA APHIS is amending the “Fruit and Vegetables” regulations to allow the importation of fresh Andean blackberry (Rubusglaucus Benth) and raspberry (Rubusidaeus Linnaeus) fruit from Ecuador into the continental United States under a system approach. Careful consideration of pest risks, as evaluated through the Pest Risk Analysis, has led APHIS to determine that commercial consignments of these fruits will be allowed if they are produced under a systems approach to mitigate pests, are accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from the national plant protection organization of Ecuador, and are subject to further inspection at the port of entry to the United States.

The systems approach includes measures to ensure the protection of American agriculture and natural resources from quarantine pests. As a condition of entry, the fruit will have to be produced in accordance with a systems approach that includes requirements for importation in commercial consignments from a pest free production site within a certified low pest prevalence area for fruit flies, and subjected to pest monitoring and trapping. The fruit will also have to be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate issued by the NPPO of Ecuador bearing an additional declaration stating that the consignment was produced and prepared for export in accordance with the requirements of the systems approach.

The rule is effective as of May 9, 2016, and a copy of the rule can be obtained through the Federal Register